The Ultimate Playlist When You Are Stuck Being DD

Nightlife is a world unto itself, with its own customs and roles that revolve around the pursuit of a good time. And many of those roles are defined by how you choose to have a good time. Do you want to drink when you go out? Do you abstain? Could you go either way?

The designated driver is a noble role, but it’s one that’s rarely relished. Some groups take turns with driving duty, so everyone can equally divide the labor that no one wants to handle by him or herself. And sometimes the person least likely to drink takes one for the team. In any event, it’s not easy to be the sober, responsible one while your friends are throwing back shots. But with the rise of car services like Uber, being the designated driver for strangers can be a lucrative business.

Whether you love or hate taking on the mantle of designated driver, you deserve our respect, and you also deserve some entertainment. Here, we present the ultimate DD playlist, with songs to party responsibly to, pay tribute to your effort, and simply keep you company on a long drive.

Baton Rouge rapper Kevin Gates made "I don’t get tired" his signature catchphrase on his popular Instagram account well before he released a song under that title. The track, featuring singer August Alsina, ended up being an anthem and a breakthrough radio hit for Gates. Let the song’s tireless determination guide you through a late night, as you fight sleep deprivation to get everyone home safely.

The Ohio duo Twenty One Pilots recently surprised the world by debuting at No.1 on Billboard with their second major-label album, Blurryface. And part of the reason for their success is “Tear in My Heart,” a piano-driven rocker with a bridge that captures the internal dialogue of someone giving a ride to a friend: “You fell asleep in my car, I drove the whole time/But that’s OK I’ll just avoid the holes so you sleep fine/I’m driving, here I sit, cursing my government/For not using my taxes to fill holes with more cement.”

You probably can’t imagine any pop superstars would be up to the task of being a designated driver. But Prince is one of the more famously sober artists in pop, and you know he’s all about having a fun night out.

Kendrick Lamar reached platinum heights largely by having his cake and eating it too, with a series of songs that took on serious social issues but hid the messages inside catchy, radio-friendly hooks. Perhaps the best example of that is his breakthrough hit “Swimming Pools (Drank),” which examines the pitfalls of alcoholism, and the rapper’s own reasons for abstaining, with a chant of “pour up” that still appeals to anyone who’s having a drink.

One of Def Jam’s newest signees, Alessia Cara had a breakout hit with “Here,” a party song about not partying, tagging along with your friends, and just trying to make the best of the situation. She’s not drinking, she’s not hooking up with anyone, but she’s here.

The breakout star of Janelle Monae’s Wondaland label, Nigerian-born singer/rapper Jidenna has one of the songs of the summer this year. “Classic Man” is the kind of rare club banger that emphasizes poise and dignity, even while giving you a beat to dance to.

The easiest way to read Jamaican singer OMI’s summer hit “Cheerleader” is as a bit sexist—the girl is just a cheerleader who lavishes praise and attention on her guy. But in a broader sense, you can think of the song as a depiction of any affectionate, supportive relationship—being right there when someone needs you.

Ric Ocasek was the mastermind behind the Cars, writing and producing the bulk of their hits. But their late bassist, Benjamin Orr, sometimes took the mic for Ocasek’s compositions, perhaps because his earnest croon suited some songs better. Never did that method pay off more than on the third single from their 1984 blockbuster album, Heartbeat City, with Orr plaintively asking, “Who’s gonna drive you home?”

“You Used to Drive Me Around” is a brooding, epic highlight from Songs From the Year of Our Demise, the 2006 solo debut by Posies co-frontman Jon Auer. The lyrics seem to describe a tense relationship between a drinker and a driver (“I know I’m falling over, and before we got much lower/I’ve had enough of all your bribery and mimosa”). That’s not an ideal situation for a designated driver to be in, but that is sometimes the reality.

He’s known for the wild, theatrical gore of his stage shows, but Alice Cooper is also one of rock’s many recovering alcoholics. And while some may stay sober by staying away from temptation, Cooper has a more unusual method—he goes to bars and orders a soda. Which makes him a good role model for a designated driver who plans on spending the night in a bar without getting drunk.

He’s one of rap’s biggest stars, but some of Drake’s most enduring songs are the ones where he slips into R&B mode—most of all “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” which feels like a lullaby for the end of a long night.

“Lean on Me,” one of a handful of immortal hits Bill Withers crafted before quietly retiring from music, is a hymn to friendship. More specifically, it’s about being kind to a friend, and strong for them, when they’re in a moment of weakness. Isn’t that what being a designated driver is about at the core?